Alumni study at international top universities
Giving excellent students the chance to study at a leading institution anywhere in the world, and thus putting Flanders on the international map: that is the goal of the Fayat scholarship programme. Anyone who has obtained a master degree (or is close to obtaining one) can compete for this funding by the Flemish government and, if successful, follow an extra course of studies at a top institution abroad. Last academic year, three UAntwerp alumni were awarded the coveted scholarship. Right now, they are busy fulfilling their dream.
Studying at Harvard, New York and Cambridge
After Zoë Nevelsteen and Charlotte Dierickx-Visschers completed a master in law at UAntwerp, they both travelled to the United States on a Fayat scholarship for an extra “master of laws”. Nevelsteen was admitted to New York University. ‘In Antwerp, I studied both law and philosophy. New York is the perfect place for me, because the university here has the best legal-philosophical programme in the world.’ Dierickx-Visschers is taking classes at Harvard University. ‘At Harvard, you can put together your own programme. There are over five hundred courses to choose from! I’m concentrating on international law.’
The third alumnus to receive a Fayat scholarship is Mattijs Devlieghere. He’s an electromechanical engineer and is currently enrolled in the Industrial Systems, Manufacture, and Management programme at the University of Cambridge. ‘It’s a unique master that brings together engineering sciences and management. Exactly what I was looking for!’
Whether an experience abroad widens one’s gaze? Absolutely, says Dierickx-Visschers. ‘Here in the United States I’m familiarising myself with a different legal system. American society has a different perspective on the role of national and international legislation, which means they adopt fewer human rights treaties and have a completely different constitutional framework.’ Devlieghere, on the other hand, discovered a more practice-oriented way of studying in the United Kingdom. ‘For example, every week a company visit is scheduled. And you also do short internships at companies to solve concrete problems.’
That student life varies considerably from city to city is demonstrated by the different experiences of the three scholarship holders. ‘The Harvard campus is a real student village that’s also academically vibrant,’ says Dierickx-Visschers. ‘Every day there are lectures, network activities, etc. And there’s always a motivated audience! It’s a totally different mentality from Belgium, where you go to class, take exams, and that’s it. When you study at Harvard, you get the total experience.’
There are also lots of extracurricular activities in Cambridge, Devlieghere adds. ‘Our programme recently organised an excursion lasting several days. It featured all kinds of exercises revolving around personal development, leadership qualities and teambuilding.’ Finally, Nevelsteen isn’t so much part of a traditional student network in New York; it’s more of an international community. ‘A traditional campus doesn’t exist here, because the university buildings are far apart. You really live in the city. As New York is one of the greatest cities in the world, I find myself developing into a citizen of the world.’
The Harvard campus is a real student village that’s also academically vibrant. Every day there are lectures, network activities, etc. When you study at Harvard, you get the total experience.
Selection procedure
The alumni found out about the scholarship programme in different ways: via their teachers, their parents, or social media ads. All three of them saw it as a golden opportunity and threw themselves into the application process. As a first step, they wrote an elaborate motivation letter and an essay about the leadership role they would like to take on in Flanders. They then spoke to the jury and put themselves forward as candidates at foreign institutions. To be admitted to their dream universities, they all used different approaches, varying from spreading their chances across several schools to focusing exclusively on their number one.
International future
In spring, the adventure of the scholarship students will come to an end. ‘I’ll be returning to Belgium in any case, even though I don’t know exactly what I want to do,’ says Dierickx-Visschers. ‘At Harvard, I discovered that my degree has opened up so many career paths, from handling environmental disputes to working for international NGOs and organisations.
Devlieghere is already an ambassador for his native country in Cambridge, by promoting Belgian and Flemish engineering and technology. That’s the kind of role he would like to take on in his career as well. ‘Antwerp is really a hotspot for international companies, especially given the port. Here, I’m perfectly placed to help put Flanders and Belgium on the map.’
Finally, Nevelsteen isn’t done with her challenge abroad. ‘My plan for next year? Applying at international organisations! I definitely want to explore more of the world.’
In closing, the three alumni advise all students to try for a scholarship. ‘Fayat offers very extensive support,’ says Devlieghere. ‘Not only financially, but also when it comes to networking, for instance. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime!’ Nevelsteen agrees and stresses students shouldn’t feel intimidated. ‘Putting yourself forward to the biggest schools in the world... that’s scary. But have the courage to go for it. Studying at those places is a golden opportunity. You have to take it!’
If you would like to know how to get your hands on a Fayat scholarship, click here to read more.
The University of Antwerp helps students and alumni with their applications. Please send an email to evelien.peeten@uantwerpen.be for more information.